Augie Haas, a Milwaukee native, began playing trumpet at age 10 and has been performing, composing, and teaching ever since. He began touring the nation at age 15 with the musical ambassadors of Wisconsin, KIDS from Wisconsin. After his 3 year tour with KIDS, Haas decided a professional trumpet career was his passion so he accepted a scholarship to Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of the Performing Arts and received a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies. After graduating from Roosevelt, Haas accepted another scholarship and graduate assistantship to The University of Miami’s Frost School of Music Conservatory for a Masters in Studio Music and Jazz as well as a Doctorate in Musical Arts. Haas plays lead trumpet for numerous bands on campus, most notably Miami’s Concert Jazz Band, an 18 piece big band that won best college big band in 2010 according to Downbeat magazine.
While in Miami, Haas began performing/recording for a wide range of professional artists/producers, most recently including: Lenny Kravitz, Shakira, Disney, The Temptations, Rihanna, Pitbull, Iggy Pop, Jet, The O’jays, The Four Tops, Bernadette Peters, Joel Gray, Steve Miller, Roy Hargrove, Arturo Sandoval, Peter Nero and the Philly Pops Orchestra, Bruce Hornsby, the Milwaukee Pops Orchestra, Dave Liebman’s Big Band, John Secada, Slide Hampton, Toshiko Akiyoshi, John Fedchock, Randy Brecker and Frank Tiberi.
In 2009 Haas began touring with Maria Schneider, Paul Anka and also began national TV credits including The Tonight Show, The Ellen Show, 2009 Alma Awards and the Tom Green Show. Haas has also made numerous “guest” appearances such as performing a Solo National Anthem for the Green Bay Packers and Milwaukee Brewers.
Since moving to Miami, Haas is known as a well composer combining jazz with elements of pop. In order to begin writing new music, Haas founded his own band, the South Nine Ensemble. South Nine Ensemble has released two albums, “The Llama” and “Doing it Augie Style,” both including original works written, arranged, and composed by Mr. Haas. In hopes to have jazz inspire a younger audience, Hass also co-founded Playtime Music, LLC. As artistic director, Haas released the album “Baby Jazz.” Currently, Haas is composing an album featuring him with strings of all original work to be released in 2010.